Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso announced the city government of Manila is preparing to launch a fresh milk feeding program for more than 100,000 children enrolled in daycare centers, as part of efforts to promote nutrition and support local dairy farmers.
Speaking before dairy farmers, business leaders, and national government officials, Domagoso said the city is ready to become a regular customer for locally produced milk, which could be distributed to children in public daycare centers and schools.
“Give it to us because I will let more or less 100,000 children in the city of Manila drink that milk.”
“Give it to us because I will let more or less 100,000 children in the city of Manila drink that milk,” the mayor said.
He said the proposal is being reviewed by the Manila Health Department and the City Nutrition Office, noting that the plan aligns with his “Make Manila Great Again” development agenda focused on public health, food security, and social protection.
Manila operates more than 460 daycare centers across its six districts.
Domagoso, who earlier restored the city’s pasteurized milk program for senior citizens, said he wants to extend similar nutritional support to toddlers and young children.
“Instead of acquiring powdered milk, why not fresh milk in the city of Manila?”
“Instead of acquiring powdered milk, why not fresh milk in the city of Manila?” he said, adding that local procurement would also help sustain the country’s dairy industry.
He recalled benefiting from the national government’s Nutribun and milk feeding programs in the 1970s under former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., describing them as effective measures against malnutrition among public school students.
“No one was hungry. Sapat at sapat na nutrisyon ang natatanggap ng mga mag-aaral sa pampublikong paaralan,” Domagoso said.
He also assured the business sector that Manila is open to partnerships with dairy producers and investors willing to participate in the city’s nutrition drive.
“We are ready to buy, and we will pay,” Domagoso said. “Something will happen, I’m sure. This is not just talk.”
